Spring dramas '11 heaven

A few highlights from the next couple weeks' in the local Ottawa stage and screen scene:

NAC: A Tribute to Judy Garland - May 5 - 7, 2011, 8pm
"Her distinctive voice, striking stage presence, and emotional range make Linda Eder’s homage to Judy Garland a not-to-be missed event at the Pops. The award-winning star of Broadway and headliner in concert venues across the continent lends her prodigious vocal gifts to the legend’s most unforgettable songs." 53 Elgin Street, Ottawa. Tickets from $20.45

http://www.nac-cna.ca/en/naco/event.cfm?ID=6235


Empire Theatres Orleans: Memphis - May 8, 2011, 1pm
"Captured live in performance on Broadway, MEMPHIS bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love. The show was captured live in performance at Broadway's renowned Shubert Theatre in New York City where it is currently playing to sold out audiences."

http://www.empiretheatres.com/movie/memphis


Kanata Theatre: A Few Good Men - May 10 - 21 and 17 - 21, 2011, 8pm
"Guantanamo Bay is at the centre of  this gripping play.A cynical lawyer is persuaded to take seriously the defence of two young marines charged with the death of a third. Did the accused act on their own? Were they obeying an unwritten code of honour?" 1 Ron Maslin Way, Ottawa. Tickets $15.00

http://www.kanatatheatre.com/2010/goodmen/default.htm


Shenkman Arts Centre: The Trial of Louis Riel - May 11, 2011, 8pm
"The Trial of Louis Riel is Canada’s s longest running play. To mark the 125th anniversary of the 1885 Northwest Resistance and the Riel trial, the cast and producers (from Saskatchewan) are touring the production across Canada. The show’s only Ottawa appearance is proudly presented at the Shenkman Arts Centre/ Harold Shenkman Hall." 245 Centrum Blvd., Ottawa. Tickets: $28.75

http://www.shenkmanarts.ca/events_evenements/details/may_mai/louis_riel_en.html


GCTC: The Crucible - May 11 - 14, 2011, 8pm
"The Crucible tells the story of the Salem Witch trials, in which 19 people were sentenced to death based only on the suspicion of many and the dubious testimony of a few (...) The GCTC/CCLA Lawyer Play is an annual fundraising project that supports the operations of the Great Canadian Theatre Company. A portion of the proceeds will also benefit local charity Operation Come Home." 1233 Wellington St. W., Ottawa. Tickets: $100

http://www.gctc.ca/plays/lawyer-play-2011


CFI: German Language Film Festival - May 12 - 14, 2011, 7pm
"Presented in collaboration with Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Embassy of Switzerland, and the Embassy of Austria. All films are in German with English sub-titles. Admission to all three films in this series is free." 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa.

http://www.cfi-icf.ca/index.php?option=com_cfi&task=showevent&id=67


Centrepointe Theatre: Spring Awakening - May 13 - 15, 2011
"Universally acclaimed and hailed as “the most important musical of the decade” by the New York Times, this big-stage masterpiece captured eight Tony awards in 2008 and four Olivier awards in 2010. Set in the 19th Century, Spring Awakening pits teen desires against adult repression with dazzling choreography, humour, emotion, and theatricality." 101 Centrepointe Drive, Ottawa. Tickets from $29.75

http://www.centrepointetheatre.com/events_tickets/details_theatre/may/spring_awakening_en.html


Steampunk Ottawa Movie Night: The Great Mouse Detective/Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - May 14, 2011, 7pm

"Join us for an evening of childhood steampunk favourites!" 33 Garrison Street, Ottawa.

http://www.steampunkcanada.ca/apps/calendar/showEvent?calID=4139572&eventID=127482584


Cinema Dante: La notte di San Lorenzo - May 18, 2011
"Filmmakers Vittorio and Paolo Taviani based La Notte di San Lorenzo on their own World War II experience. Though the two were teenage boys during the conflict, the film is depicted through the eyes of a six-year-old girl and narrated by a grown woman." 1026 Baseline Rd., Ottawa.

http://www.danteottawa.ca/cinema/notte.htm


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Stage hands local kudos

It was a fun time checking out the 4th Annual Prix Rideau Awards recently. This uniquely bilingual celebration of stage actors, directors, plays and production crew on both sides of the Ottawa River was hosted a block away from the Museum of Civilization at Gatineau's impressive City Hall this year. A big congrats to all the talented nominees and winners.

Find the complete list of nominees and winners at www.prixrideauawards.ca and check out the moviequips.ca photo gallery for a glimpse of the ceremony, presenters and award-winners.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moviequips/sets/72157626359478541/

You can also see or revisit the 4th Prix Rideau Awards presentation by watching the videos at the Ottawa Tonight website. There's additional footage shot at the nominations party held earlier this year.

http://www.ottawatonite.com/2011/04/les-prix-rideau-awards-featuring-the-awards-ceremony/


Hashtag Rosencrantz+Guildenstern

It's rumoured that live theatre has been suffering a slow death since the birth of Talkies on the big screen. I don't know if that's arguable or not, but here's your chance to catch a sneek peek of one of the most famous slow deaths, in the latest version of the Shakespeare's Hamlet - on the stage - that's inspired such film studs as Ethan Hawke (in 2000), Kenneth Branagh (in 1996), and Mel Gibson (in 1990) to play the starring role... some might still be playing it, off-screen...

HAMLET2011 April 26 - 30, May 3-7, Centrepointe Studio Theatre
"The newly-launched Ottawa Shakespeare Company (OSC) brings its 'Shakespeare re:mixed' Hamlet2011 as the first-ever production 'previewing' the brand-new Centrepointe Studio Theatre from April 26 to May 7, 2011, before the venue’s official opening in the fall of 2011."

http://www.ottawashakespeare.ca/


Screen envy?
Slightly related, it was surprising to discover the huge number of stage adaptations of movies being trotted out on Broadway this season. Movies adapted for live theatre. Eat your heart out, IMAX 3D...

http://www.broadway.com/shows/tickets/category/celebs-stage/


There's no place like this
If you're a local Ottawa filmmaker wondering if the Ontario government funds film production this far outside the GTA, you've got until April 29 to find out.

"The OMDC Film Fund has been developed to increase the level of indigenous film production in Ontario. It will provide support to Ontario producers for feature film projects in the final stages of development and production financing. The OMDC Film Fund consists of two components: 1) Development - Provides funding in the form of an interest-free loan of up to $25,000 for the final development stage. 2) Production - Provides funding in the form of a repayable advance of up to $400,000 on a last-in basis to complete the financing of a feature film."

http://www.omdc.on.ca/Page3209.aspx


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Crypt link revived

Self-referential, web code-centric posts on this blog are, like, so 90s and, like, totally what-ev...

So, here's another one: The links to the moviequips.ca crypt (care of waybackmachine.org) no-longer work. The old, archived page is still accessible, just not through the existing moviequips.ca site for a while. It really only matters if you're interested in checking out the old movie reviews (2002-2007) that are stuck in limbo. Here's the new URL to the old moviequips site, where you can scroll down to the old quipsography index. Or like, not, and just hangout.

http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20090809001421/http://geocities.com/iamstephenbourne/moviequips7.html

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GG awards indie VIPs

A big congrats to Canadian independent filmmakers Barbara Sternberg (Toronto) and David Rimmer (Vancouver), two of the winners celebrated by the 2011 Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts.

"The Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts are Canada's foremost distinctions for excellence in these artistic disciplines. They were created in 1999 by the Governor General of Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts. The Canada Council funds and administers the awards. The prizes are awarded annually to visual and media artists for distinguished career achievement in visual arts, architecture, independent film and video, or audio and new media."

http://canadacouncil.ca/prizes/ggavma/ky129399278859350353.htm?subsiteurl=%2fcanadacouncil%2farchives%2fprizes%2fggvma%2f2011%2fdefault-e.html

PRIZED SHORTS SCREENED

The National Gallery of Canada is presenting a free public screening of Barbara Sternberg's and David Rimmer's films on Sat. Apr. 16 at 2pm, followed by an encore presentation of Barbara Sternberg's films on Sat. Apr. 30 at 2pm, and of David Rimmer's films on Thurs. May 19 at 6pm. Check it out.

http://www.gallery.ca/english/adults.htm?submenuheader=8


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April's no foolin' fêtes

Loads of great screenings and stage stuff worth checking out in April 2011. Here are a few highlighted fêtes and favourites from the moviequips.ca calendar:

Saturday, April 2, 2011 - Reliving Old Hollywood Charity Gala
Royal Ottawa Golf Club, 1405 Chemin Aylmer, Gatineau

"Join us at the 3rd Reliving Old Hollywood Gala in support of ovarian cancer research on Saturday, April 2, 2011. Beginning at 7pm, guests will enter the prestigious Royal Ottawa Golf Club like Hollywood superstars and be swarmed by red carpet paparazzi." Tickets: $90

http://www.relivingoldhollywood.com/


Sunday, April 3, 2011 - Film Screening: Jellyfish
Mayfair Theatre, 1074 Bank St., Ottawa

The Ottawa International Writers Festival and the Embassy of Israel Present: One-on-One with Etgar Keret. "Don’t miss an evening of prose, conversation and film with best-selling Israeli writer and filmmaker, Etgar Keret (...) Includes a special 5:00 PM screening of the award winning feature film, Jellyfish." Tickets: free/$10/$15 (see site)

http://www.writersfestival.org/events/one-on-one-with-etgar-keret

Tuesday, April 5-8, 2011 - The Best of the Planet in Focus Environmental Film Festival.
Canadian Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod St., Ottawa

"Don't miss these thought-provoking productions, which were showcased at the renowned Planet in Focus Film Festival in Toronto (...) Look for lively discussions each night with special guest speakers." See site for ticket info and screening times.

http://nature.ca/en/plan-your-visit/what-see-do/whats/best-planet-focus-environmental-film-festival


Sunday, April 10, 2011 - The Prix Rideau Awards
La Maison du citoyen, 25 Laurier Street, Gatineau

"Founded in 2006 to celebrate, encourage and promote French and English locally produced professional theatre work and its artists, the Prix Rideau Awards is proud to announce the nominees for 2010 (...) During the 2010 calendar year, 41 English productions and 15 French productions were juried by two teams of local arts professionals." Tickets: $25

http://www.prixrideauawards.ca


Saturday, April 16, 2011 - GG Award Winners film screenings
National Gallery of Canada, 380 Sussex Dr., Ottawa

"Films by Barbara Sternberg and David Rimmer, winners of a 2011 Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts, will be presented in the National Gallery's Lecture Hall. Free admission."

http://www.gallery.ca/english/adults.htm?submenuheader=8


Wednesday, April 20, 2011 - Film Screening: Shinjuku Boys
Shanghai Restaurant, 651 Somerset St. W., Ottawa

"Divergence Movie Night (DMN) is a not-for-profit film series based in Ottawa Ontario that is committed to bringing underground queer festival films to cities across North America. Every month we bring in an underground festival movie about GLBTTQ issues." Tickets: Free (donations suggested)

http://divergencemovienight.com/


Saturday, April 30, 2011 - Film Screening: Tales from the Gimli Hospital: Reframed
National Arts Centre, 53 Elgin St., Ottawa

"Prairie Scene and the Winnipeg Film Group are thrilled to present the world premiere of an innovative new project from celebrated filmmaker Guy Maddin. TALES FROM THE GIMLI HOSPITAL: REFRAMED pairs Maddin’s breakthrough film with live performance of a newly commissioned work by Winnipeg composer Matthew Patton, featuring ethereal music performed by members of Iceland’s amiina, live narration, and a ground-breaking visual-soundscape created by the Aono Jikken Ensemble." Tickets: $25

http://www.prairiescene.ca/en/events/event.asp?eID=505


Thanks for checking in.